Rating: 
Summary: My Idea of a Great Historical Novel
Review: THE IRON HAND OF MARS is less of a genre mystery than most of the others, but this wild romp through Germania is, I think, Davis' best Falco book so far, with the possible exception of the first one, SILVER PIGS. Her amazing knowledge of the period, as if she'd time-traveled, is skilfully interwoven with the personal relationships among Falco, Helena, and Helena's extremely likeable brother. She presents the Roman army's military ambitions (and snafus) with enough zest to awaken a love of history in all but the most jaded, and her portraits of Cerialis and the other high-rankers, both offstage and on, had me laughing out loud.If you haven't studied Roman history, you can do it "fictionally"--starting out around 100 BC with Colleen McCullough's Marius-Sulla-Caesar novels (so superior to McCullough's THE "CORN" BIRDS), then going to Robert Graves' three Claudius books, which take you up to Nero (brrrr!), and finishing up with Lindsey Davis. I can scarcely wait for Vesuvius to blow in 79 AD!
Rating: 
Summary: More History than Mystery
Review: This book is definitely more of a history book than a mystery book, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. The wild ride through old Germany and the adventures that befall Falco's ragtag bunch of recruits is fun. The more I read of Falco, the more likeable he becomes. And the characters we are introduced to in each book make quite an impresion. In this case an effeminate barber called Xanthus, and the lovely Helena's younger brother. Her characters seem alive, and it makes for a fun quick read. If you are interested in getting an idea of what Germany was like in 71AD, you could do worse than read this book. Looking forward to the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: More History than Mystery
Review: This book is definitely more of a history book than a mystery book, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. The wild ride through old Germany and the adventures that befall Falco's ragtag bunch of recruits is fun. The more I read of Falco, the more likeable he becomes. And the characters we are introduced to in each book make quite an impresion. In this case an effeminate barber called Xanthus, and the lovely Helena's younger brother. Her characters seem alive, and it makes for a fun quick read. If you are interested in getting an idea of what Germany was like in 71AD, you could do worse than read this book. Looking forward to the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: One of her two best--you'll turn it around and read it again
Review: Top hole! I've read all of Lindsey Davis' Falco series and although I enjoyed them all, this is the only one on a par with the marvelous series opener SILVER PIGS. In fact, I'd give this a 10--I just loved it--but I have to reserve that for SILVER PIGS itself which is incomparable. For fans of the series, this is another of the books where Falco goes on the road and enables Davis to cast a cocked eye on the various nationalities of Europe under the pretext of junketing the ancient world. Somehow the plots where Falco travels through the wilder bits of the Roman Empire bring out the best in him and are the most entertaining. Maybe it's just that Davis loves to tell a good adventure story--or maybe it's just that Falco is basically most convincing as a soldier. You'll finish it and turn to the beginning to read it again. Nadine Harris
Rating:
Summary: One of her two best--you'll turn it around and read it again
Review: Top hole! I've read all of Lindsey Davis' Falco series and although I enjoyed them all, this is the only one on a par with the marvelous series opener SILVER PIGS. In fact, I'd give this a 10--I just loved it--but I have to reserve that for SILVER PIGS itself which is incomparable. For fans of the series, this is another of the books where Falco goes on the road and enables Davis to cast a cocked eye on the various nationalities of Europe under the pretext of junketing the ancient world. Somehow the plots where Falco travels through the wilder bits of the Roman Empire bring out the best in him and are the most entertaining. Maybe it's just that Davis loves to tell a good adventure story--or maybe it's just that Falco is basically most convincing as a soldier. You'll finish it and turn to the beginning to read it again. Nadine Harris
| 
